Much of Texas A&M's desire to join the Southeastern Conference is focused on money, just like everything else these days. But don't let the Aggies tell you it's not also about envy and ego. In the eyes of most Aggies, moving to the SEC means they'll no longer have to operate in Texas' vast shadow. Whatever. Moving to the SEC won't rid A&M of its inferiority complex any more than bouncing from church to church will rid unhappy parishioners searching for spiritual joy of theirs. Any substantive change always begins with introspection. Until the Aggies acknowledge they're envious of Texas' football success and experience their own on a long-term basis, A&M will always be stuck in UT's shadow. http://espn.go.com/dallas/ncf/story/_/id/6862025/texas-put-ego-envy-aside-moving-on
Hmm.. ESPN/Foxsports seems to be saying A&M to SEC is paused for now... Newspaper writers seem to be saying its just a legal manuever and A&M will go to the SEC, maybe even this week..Who to believe..Who to believe
I think the thing we've learned from this is that no one can be believed here. With all the politics going on, even the best sources are fed/being fed information to slant the direction in their favor. The only thing we know for sure is that A&M administration wants out of the Big 12, and it looks like they are willing to go to great lengths to do it. That tells me we will be out one way or another sooner rather than later.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...s/08/14/texas.am.sec/index.html?sct=cf_t11_a2 Good piece, which I felt was too long to post:
Do you honestly expect A&M to compete on the field for the majority of seasons in the SEC? As far as winning the conference, playing for a title, etc?
Your quote makes it seem like that was said by someone in the SEC. It's the article's author interpreting the situation. It makes sense though. I hope they get in. Everyone affiliated with the school seems to want it
Why the hell not? The Aggies have been a top ten team in the past. They played much better last year and look to be on the right path. Besides, this move is also about getting in a better conference and making more money. If the Aggies were just looking for conference titles, they could move to C-USA. People who think the Aggies have no chance to become a consistent winner are just offering an opinion, an opinion that could be completely wrong. I for one will enjoy seeing what the Aggies can do in the SEC, so I hope it happens.
The only time the Aggies have been a top 10 team at the end of the season is when they payed their players.
My opinion is based on them having limited success in a weaker conference. So I would think they wouldn't have more success in a stronger conference. Anything can change but I definately wouldn't put my $$ on them beasting in the SEC.
According to Chip Brown / OB, the plan is still in motion. Realistically, situation is very fluid and 21 days is a LONG time for things to blow up even if true now. http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1251783 A source locked into Texas A&M's situation said the Aggies will be announced as members of the Southeastern Conference beginning in 2012 within 21 days. "Texas A&M wants the SEC, and the SEC wants Texas A&M," the source said. The SEC presidents met Sunday and decided to take no action on Texas A&M but certainly left the door open. "We discussed criteria and process associated with expansion," said Florida president Bernie Machen, chairman of the SEC presidents and chancellors, in a statement. The A&M source said the process to complete A&M's move from the Big 12 to the SEC was always expected to take two to three weeks. That process continues uninterrupted, the source said. Even Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe was skeptical of the SEC taking no action on Texas A&M. Beebe told Orangebloods.com on Sunday night, "I will say that I noticed and am concerned that the SEC and Texas A&M statements are ambiguous and open ended." On Monday afternoon, Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin is expected to receive the ability to make all decisions with regard to "conference alignment" at a meeting of A&M's board of regents. Loftin released a statement Sunday that the regents meeting will proceed and that he'll appear at a House Higher Education Committee hearing Tuesday at 2 p.m., called by committee chairman Dan Branch, R-Dallas, to look at A&M's situation. "As we have seen over the past several days, there has been a considerable amount of misinformation regarding these discussions and any associated timelines," Loftin said in the statement. "The chairman of our board has indicated that the regents will proceed with tomorrow's agenda item, which authorizes the president of Texas A&M to take all actions related to athletic conference alignment. "I will also accept Chairman Branch's invitation to participate in his committee's hearing on Tuesday. These are extremely complex issues, and it is imperative that we proceed methodically and in the best interests of Texas A&M." A source close to Loftin said he will not talk about the Aggies' disatisfaction with Texas and the ESPN-run Longhorn Network at the committee hearing. Instead, he'll talk about the benefits to Texas A&M of moving to the SEC, including more national exposure and branding as part of the SEC and equal revenue sharing. Three sources in the know about the Texas A&M and SEC situation said they all believe the statement released by Florida president Bernie Machen, chair of the SEC presidents and chancellors, was merely a chance for the SEC and A&M to catch their breath during this courtship. The plan is still very much for Texas A&M to be added to the SEC, the sources said. But the presidents and chancellors of the SEC wanted to slow down the process and make sure everyone was on the same page as far as expansion plans as laid out by SEC commissioner Mike Slive, the sources said. There was probably some concern in the SEC about possible litigation from the Big 12 with regard to the SEC interfering with Texas A&M's current contracts with Big 12 TV partners (ABC/ESPN and Fox), the sources said. Texas A&M's lawyers have also been looking at all the details involved with leaving the Big 12. According to an official in the Big 12, Texas A&M's buyout (exit fees) could reach $30 million to leave the Big 12. By hitting the "pause button," according to one source, the SEC also gets to see how Texas A&M handles questions from state lawmakers during a hearing on Tuesday before the House Higher Education Committee. The decision to take no action on Texas A&M Sunday also gives the SEC more time to decide who and when a 13th (most likely still the Aggies) and 14th school may be added. House Higher Education Committee chairman Dan Branch told Orangebloods.com on Saturday that A&M officials have told him they thought any possible move to the SEC would take "two to three weeks to finalize." Here is the entire statement from Dr. Bernie Machen, Chair, Southeastern Conference Presidents and Chancellors: "The SEC Presidents and Chancellors met today and reaffirmed our satisfaction with the present 12 institutional alignment. We recognize, however, that future conditions may make it advantageous to expand the number of institutions in the league. We discussed criteria and process associated with expansion. No action was taken with respect to any institution including Texas A&M." Stay tuned.
Did you read the whole part about their lack of success? It was in direct response to your they "have been top 10 in the past". Ya like in freakin 94.
I'm not going to be one to say the Aggies can never have great success in the SEC. But if winning games and titles is the priority, then the Big 12 is clearly a better conference. The Aggies won't be as successful on the field there as they would be in the Big 12. Beat 2 schools and you have a BCS game. Pretty simple formula and one I think most schools would like to have.
I read it, and I say so what? It's just one persons opinion. I don't know if they will succeed in the SEC or not, no one does. Just because the Aggies have been bad in recent years doesn't mean they won't improve in the coming years. Like I said earlier, if they just wanted conference titles they can go to C-USA. I think the SEC could be a good fit for A&M, and I look forward to see how they will do.
So you went from they have been top 10 before to so what?? The past doesn't have any correlation with their future. Riight.
